The 9 most amazing waterfalls in Iceland

The 9 most amazing waterfalls in Iceland

1. Svartifoss waterfall

The 20-metre high Svartifoss waterfall (“black waterfall”) consists of six-sided columns of black basalt. Watch the movie of this beautiful creation...

2. Seljealandsfos waterfall

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall is situated on the river Seljalandsá. The waterfall is 60 metres high and falls straight down onto the former shoreline, which has formed a small lake in the middle of the green pasture. You can walk along a path behind the waterfall, where you will find a cave that lets you look through the waterfall: a very special view. Please note that the path is slippery there. The Seljalandsfoss waterfall is lit up at night, which creates a special spectacle.

3. Skógafoss waterfall

Skógafoss waterfall is 60 metres high and 25 metres wide. It is located in the town of Skogar, situated on the Skoga river, hence the name. Just like other waterfalls in this area, the water falls down on what was once the coastline. This line retreated during the last ice age because the soils in the region were pushed up. It can now be found 5 km inland. The former cliffs form a distinct barrier between the lowland and highland.

4. Gullfoss waterfall

Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) is a double waterfall situated on the Hvítá or white river. The two sets of stairs are perpendicular to each other. The entire waterfall is about 32 metres high and provides stunning views. When visiting the falls you will immediately notice a lot of spraying mist. You can often see rainbows.

5. Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss waterfalls

Hengifoss waterfall is one of the highest in Iceland. The Litlanesfoss is not as high and is therefore sometimes skipped, which is a shame, considering it is a fantastically beautiful waterfall surrounded by thick basalt pillars. The Litlanesfoss flows into the lower Lagarfljot River. This river is 2.5 km at its widest point, and because of this, it looks more like a lake.

6. Dettifoss, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss waterfalls

The Dettifoss waterfall is 44 metres high and up to 100 metres wide. It is the most powerful waterfall in Iceland. The area around Dettifoss is part of Jökulsárgljúfur (glacial river gorge) area. From the car park to the waterfall, is about 1 km walk to the vantage point from which to view the waterfall.

From the Dettifoss waterfall, you can walk a 1.5 km-long trail to another waterfall situated more upstream, the Selfoss waterfall (not to be confused with Selfoss town!).

Do you want to visit yet another waterfall? A little farther downstream from Dettifoss, you can find the 27-metre-high waterfall called Hafragilsfoss. This is harder to reach and only for adventurers who are in good shape and want to defy some steep climbs.

7. Góðafoss waterfall

Góðafoss or “Waterfall of the Gods” got its name in 1000 when Iceland changed from its old Ásatrú religion to Christianity. You can visit the waterfalls from both the western and the eastern shores. For the viewing platform on the eastern shore, you have to take a short walk of 1 km from the restaurant until the bridge. As a reward you’ll get the best view.

8. Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall

Approximately 2.5 km west of the village of Grundarfjörður, you will find Kirkjufell (“mountain church”). The mountain has a very particular shape and is 463 metres high. Nearby is a small river with an old bridge over it. You can visit the beautiful Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall there.

9. Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls

Hraunfossar is a 900-metre waterfall that streams down over the lava rocks. A little farther upstream on the river Hvítá, you can also visit the Barnafoss waterfall (“children’s waterfall”) named after two brothers who drowned here when they walked over a lava stone bridge).Take about 20-30 minutes for a walk here.

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Tips & info

Special places we would have missed otherwise ... We have just returned from a 16-day Iceland tour. The travel book was very helpful, we had downloaded and printed. The PDF travel guide helped us to find nice places. Very organized itinerary with a road map which listed all sites. TOP!Werner Bochar

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